Chapter 116: Sweet Red Bean Soup
Perhaps due to lack of sleep, one’s intelligence tends to drop… Mi Hongdou silently deleted the half-finished reply, exited the comment section, and went to Ji Junxin’s Weibo page.
Ji Junxin hadn’t updated her Weibo in a while, her latest post also the one promoting the premiere. Now, the comments section was exploding with messages like, “Feeling sorry for our Xinxin!” “Wuli Xinxin, don’t cry!” “Don’t cry, Xinxin, we’re here for you!” …
Mi Hongdou scrolled through the comments. Amidst the outpouring of sympathy, there were only a few comments about yuri, much tamer than the comments on her own Weibo. It seemed Ji Junxin’s fans were more… rational.
Summer days dawned early. Mi Hongdou, having woken up a little after four, browsed Weibo for a while, and it was already light outside. Thinking about the day’s filming ahead, she reluctantly closed Weibo, intending to get a little more sleep.
Before exiting, she habitually refreshed the page and glanced at Ji Junxin’s trending comments.
Her sleepiness instantly vanished.
Could someone explain why, among all the comforting “Don’t cry, Xinxin” comments, the most liked one was “The Empress is such an idiot!”
She must still be half-asleep!
Mi Hongdou closed her phone and lay back down.
It must be around six o’clock in Japan now, she wondered if Ji Junxin was awake… She turned over, wanting to text her, but remembering the comments on her own Weibo, she stopped. She would wait until Ji Junxin saw them and gauge her reaction first.
Since Ji Junxin’s sudden departure after “Imperial Secrets” wrapped, their relationship had entered a strange phase. They were friends, yet they could go weeks without contact, their only interaction a brief, silent encounter at the premiere. But since Ji Junxin went to Japan, they texted every day. Mi Hongdou had tried to maintain a comfortable distance, similar to during filming, but she realized that the closeness or distance between them wasn’t entirely up to her.
It was Ji Junxin who left without saying goodbye. It was Ji Junxin who didn’t initiate contact. It was Ji Junxin who replied lukewarmly. And it was Ji Junxin who suddenly became chatty after going to Japan…
Mi Hongdou’s current view of Ji Junxin could be described with a popular phrase from online novels: “What a captivating little vixen!”
Perhaps this was what friendship was like, sometimes frequent contact, sometimes silence, it was normal. Mi Hongdou understood this, although she felt a little frustrated. She hadn’t crossed the line of friendship, maintaining a careful restraint.
Like now, wanting to text Ji Junxin, she stopped herself. Following Ji Junxin’s lead was safer.
And now, Mi Hongdou could see that Pan Xiang’s earlier worry had come true. This supposedly heterosexual drama… had been interpreted as a yuri story…
Mi Hongdou was a little surprised. Although she had noticed during the premiere that, whether due to the filming or the editing, the most profound bond in the film was between the Empress and Miao Qianye. And in the revised script, the Emperor’s devotion seemed more like the shallow affection of a man who wanted both love and power, weakening the heterosexual romance.
To those unfamiliar with yuri, the deepest emotions in the film were the mutual respect and support between the Empress and Miao Qianye, the Empress’s self-sacrifice, and Miao Qianye’s carefully orchestrated revenge…
But to those familiar with yuri, like Mi Hongdou, “Imperial Secrets” was… a pretty good yuri film.
During the premiere, Mi Hongdou, her heart pounding, had watched the entire film. The teary-eyed audience had eased her anxiety, she had thought they hadn’t noticed the yuri undertones… Their reaction had been both a relief and a disappointment. If they didn’t see it, then neither would Ji Junxin… she had hoped Ji Junxin would notice it, and even… be open to it.
Although she had decided to remain just a friend, she still had this… secret hope.
But she had been disappointed. Ji Junxin had left early, she hadn’t even seen her reaction.
And now, with the film officially released, browsing Weibo, Mi Hongdou realized how many people were… open to yuri. But why were most of the yuri comments on her Weibo… while Ji Junxin’s were mostly just expressions of sympathy? Did different auras attract different fans? She liked Ji Junxin, so she attracted yuri fans, and Ji Junxin was straight, so her fans were just comforting her…
Regardless of Pan Xiang’s potential suffering, Mi Hongdou hoped that when Ji Junxin woke up and checked her Weibo, there would be more yuri comments.
If only she wasn’t so averse to yuri…
Mi Hongdou sent Pan Xiang a comforting text message, then, filled with a mix of anxiety and anticipation, drifted off to sleep.
That night, some slept, while others… didn’t.
Like… Director Pan, sitting at his table, scrolling through his phone, munching on flatbreads and drinking tea, his expression troubled.
And Pan Xiang, sitting quietly in a corner, occasionally glancing at Director Pan, who had already devoured several flatbreads and several pots of tea.
And… Ji Junxin, in Japan, scrolling through Weibo on her phone all night.
Having left the premiere early, she had gone to Qiong Yu the next day and watched the entire film in Qiao Rubai’s office. Although it lacked the impact of the big screen, it was still satisfying. Miao Qianye’s story had finally come to an end. And the editing was brilliant. The bond between the Empress and Miao Qianye, although clearly portrayed as friendship in the film, seemed… more than friendship after the editing. A distinct yuri vibe… it almost felt like she and Mi Hongdou were truly… together.
She regretted not seeing Mi Hongdou’s reaction.
After the premiere, the reviews were mostly positive and complimentary, and Ji Junxin had thought that perhaps it was her own feelings for Mi Hongdou that made her see the yuri subtext.
At the midnight premiere, while the company waited for the box office numbers, Ji Junxin waited for the audience’s reactions.
She had two phones, one for her own Weibo, one for Mi Hongdou’s, she could barely keep up!
This wasn’t her first film, but she had never been this nervous. She read every comment carefully, wishing she had the ability to speed-read and memorize everything. This was her first film with Mi Hongdou, a film filled with her emotions and hopes. She couldn’t confess her feelings to Mi Hongdou directly, but she hoped that someone, after watching the film, would understand, would express it for her. She didn’t need a response, she just wanted… someone to write it, for Mi Hongdou to see… that was enough.
And the audience didn’t disappoint. Even before the film ended, waves of yuri fans flooded Weibo.
Ji Junxin was relieved, she sincerely hoped that when Mi Hongdou saw the comments, she wouldn’t be too dismissive.
She scrolled through Weibo all night, unable to stop even after sunrise. Seeing the increasing number of yuri comments on Mi Hongdou’s Weibo, she felt a sense of… satisfaction. She even created a new account and diligently liked every comment praising the Empress and Miao Qianye’s relationship.
And the top comment on Mi Hongdou’s latest post, “The Empress is too cowardly, she’s definitely the neko! My Noble Consort is full of tachi energy!” Ji Junxin almost wanted to hire internet trolls to give it a few thousand more likes!
She hadn’t come to Japan for work, so she had plenty of time to explore Japanese yuri culture. Japan’s yuri novels, anime, games, even real-life idol groups, were far more developed. Not to mention, they were much more… explicit… So, besides sightseeing and enjoying the food, Ji Junxin immersed herself in Japanese yuri culture, from the innocent and pure to the mature and complex…
If Pan Xiang had opened the door to yuri, then Ji Junxin had now run hundreds of miles through that open door, the door itself a distant memory.
She now understood the concepts of “tachi,” “neko,” and “reversible,” hmph, although I might be reversible, Mi Hongdou, so clueless, is definitely the neko! Ji Junxin, curled up in bed, diligently liking comments, thought confidently.
But what puzzled her now, more than the tachi/neko dynamic, which was child’s play to her, was why, after a whole night, most of the yuri comments were on Mi Hongdou’s Weibo, while hers were filled with comforting messages telling her not to cry. Where are my true fans?~ Can’t you see my yuri heart? Well, it was her own fault, she rarely used Weibo, only for official promotions, her posts always formal and impersonal. To her fans, she was an idol, a distant, somewhat aloof figure. Those who stayed up all night to watch the film and then browse Weibo comments, they were her true fans. And even true fans had their reservations! Although the film was filled with yuri undertones, unsure of Ji Junxin’s attitude, they wouldn’t dare to express their “yuri souls” on her Weibo. So, they went to Mi Hongdou’s Weibo instead, which resulted in one side filled with yuri comments, and the other with just a few, quickly buried under the comforting messages.
If her fans knew that their consideration was causing her distress, they would probably vomit blood.
So, the night passed, a mix of yuri and comfort, sleep and insomnia.
The next day, “Imperial Secrets” earned 160 million yuan at the box office, 650 million in four days, and broke 1 billion in a week.
During that week, Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou continued their usual text exchanges, chatting about Japanese sakura mochi and Shudian radish meatballs, neither mentioning the online comments, or even the film itself.
Although the two didn’t mention it, the internet was flooded with yuri discussions. There had been successful “unspoken BL” films before, capitalizing on the large fujoshi fanbase. There had also been attempts at “unspoken yuri,” but without much success, yuri being a smaller niche. Now, it was clear that it wasn’t because yuri was niche, but because the previous pairings hadn’t been good enough, cute enough! Doubted it? Look at the one billion yuan box office in just one week!
With such impressive box office numbers, the investors didn’t care about the audience’s interpretation, profit was the priority! Especially Dajin Entertainment, who had initially complained about Zhang Zijing’s character being underdeveloped and not heroic enough, and Jiang Duo’s character being too villainous, without any redeeming qualities or enough screen time. But after the box office numbers came out, they shut up. One billion in a week, they were laughing all the way to the bank, who cared about character development now? As for the online “Empress and Noble Consort together” frenzy, the investors encouraged it, keep it going, more hype!
As more and more people watched the film, the online opinions were no longer as unified as during the premiere. Some praised the yuri undertones, others accused the film of forced yuri. Some supported the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing, others preferred the Empress/Wei Xunqin pairing, or even Miao Qianye/Wei Xunqin. Some even thought that in the harmonious world of yuri, there were several other potential couples among the concubines!
Among them, the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing was the most popular, followed by Empress/Wei Xunqin, and then Miao Qianye/Wei Xunqin. The three different fan groups created fan fiction, fan art, fan videos, competing and trying to prove their pairing was the best. And there were a few who supported the Empress/Consort Zhu pairing, and even fewer who shipped Miao Qianye/Consort Zhu. The three main factions quickly united, eliminating the two “incorrect” minority pairings from the grand world of yuri, and then continued their friendly competition.
But overall, the yuri fans were more vocal than the heterosexual fans, and the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing remained the most popular. Even before the first week ended, a new fan group emerged, shipping the real-life Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou. They had a strange name, “Sweet Red Bean Soup,” and called themselves “Spoons.”
Ji Junxin almost spat out her red bean soup when she first saw the name, almost spraying it all over her phone. Clicking on the group’s introduction, she found three even stranger explanations for the name: 1. “Sweet Red Bean Soup represents Mi Hongdou, who loves Ji Junxin, making a pot of soup.” 2. “Sweet Red Bean Soup represents Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou, lovingly stewed together in a pot, inseparable.” 3. “Sweet Red Bean Soup represents Mi Hongdou, deeply in love with Ji Junxin, stewing herself into a pot of soup, waiting for Ji Junxin to taste.” And the “Spoons,” naturally, were those who stirred and drank the soup…
Although she found the explanations ridiculous, Ji Junxin, sipping her red bean soup, thought, well, it’s not bad.
The “Sweet Red Bean Soup” group quickly attracted most of the Empress/Miao Qianye shippers, and a few who just liked the fictional pairing. The group grew rapidly. Mi Hongdou’s Weibo comments, previously filled with yuri praise for the Empress/Miao Qianye pairing, were now flooded with demands for her to film more, complaining about her limited screen time and lack of resources, asking for fan-made MVs and short films using clips from her current projects and Ji Junxin’s previous works.
These comments almost made the exhausted Mi Hongdou, already working non-stop, collapse…
With the film’s box office success, the online yuri frenzy, and now even a real-life CP fan group, Ji Junxin should have been happy.
But she wasn’t.
She had waited for a week for Mi Hongdou to mention the online comments, but… nothing. She could tell that Mi Hongdou had seen them, but she was avoiding the topic. Did that mean… Mi Hongdou was completely straight, so straight that she was disgusted by those comments?
She loved those comments, especially those about them as a real-life couple. But the thought that what she liked was what Mi Hongdou disliked made her unhappy.
Since the wrap-up, Ji Junxin, to detach from the role, had temporarily cut off contact with Mi Hongdou. It had worked, she had successfully detached. But it had been a torment, she couldn’t stop thinking about Mi Hongdou. Her longing to see Mi Hongdou had been fulfilled at the premiere, but then she had gone to Japan…
Wanting to be with her, yet having to pretend to be just a casual friend, Ji Junxin was frustrated.
Perhaps because she was in a different country, away from everything familiar, the longing intensified. In China, she could at least tell herself that friends didn’t text each other from morning till night. But in Japan, there were no such restraints. She couldn’t control herself, her hand glued to her phone… texting Mi Hongdou whenever she was free, browsing Mi Hongdou’s Weibo when she wasn’t. After more than half a month in Japan, besides learning about Japanese yuri culture and enjoying the food, Ji Junxin’s typing speed had also significantly improved.
Although her fingers were tired, every moment was filled with happiness… and perhaps because she was in a different country, her inhibitions lowered, and she, although intending to be just a friend, found herself increasingly drawn to those gentle words and messages.
Twenty-five days after its release, “Imperial Secrets” broke two billion yuan at the box office. “Reality Online” was starting filming in ten days. Mi Hongdou’s filming for “Divorce, So Be It 2” was almost finished, she should be done a few days before the reality show.
And Ji Junxin was starting to think about… restraining herself… she would be returning to China soon, and with her current feelings for Mi Hongdou, how could she possibly maintain a platonic friendship…
Just as she was thinking about cooling down, Mi Hongdou texted her, saying that Jiang Lingling was in Shudian, preparing her restaurant for “Reality Online.”
So, Mi Hongdou, her filming schedule less demanding, often ate with Jiang Lingling, even joining her in her… schemes. Although she kept Ji Junxin updated, texting her frequently,
Ji Junxin was jealous! She was in a foreign country, while Jiang Lingling got to see Mi Hongdou every day, eating and playing together, it wasn’t fair! Even as a friend, she had to be Mi Hongdou’s best friend! Ji Junxin’s unreasonable jealousy disguised as a friend’s possessiveness. But as a friend, she couldn’t tell Mi Hongdou, I’m jealous, stop hanging out with Jiang Lingling, only play with me… She had to pretend everything was normal, replying with cheerful messages, even though she was fuming inside!
Qiao Rubai’s arrangement was for Ji Junxin to return to China just before filming started. During those ten days, Ji Junxin wished she could teleport herself to Mi Hongdou’s side.
Her possessiveness was overwhelming.
“Divorce, So Be It 2” wrapped up two days before “Reality Online.”
At the wrap-up party, Mi Hongdou finally saw Qiao Rubai, who had promised to visit her a month and a half ago…
The wrap-up dinner was at Jiang Lingling’s restaurant. Qiao Rubai offered to drive Mi Hongdou there and answer her questions from a month and a half ago.
After a month and a half, Mi Hongdou had assumed Qiao Rubai had forgotten. But she was here, and offering answers, so Mi Hongdou got in the car.
“You were dead, you didn’t know what happened after. I shouldn’t have been so angry at you for wanting to do another suicide scene for Ji Junxin, I shouldn’t have said those things, I’m sorry,” Qiao Rubai said calmly, looking straight ahead, not at Mi Hongdou, after she got in the car.
Qiao Rubai was never good at expressing her emotions, not in this life, nor in the previous one…
“It’s okay. Thank you for telling me. I know you did it for Ji Junxin. I feel the same, we’ll always be on the same page on this. So, thank you. The rest… doesn’t matter.” Mi Hongdou looked at Qiao Rubai sincerely.
Qiao Rubai’s ears turned red. After a moment, she looked at Mi Hongdou and sighed. “Anyway, although this apology is late, I hope you can accept it.”
Mi Hongdou nodded. “I accept. Then… can you tell me what happened after? Like… if it’s not too personal… how did you… die… in our previous life?”
“What do you think of Ji Junxin?” Qiao Rubai asked, changing the subject.
“What… what do I think?” Mi Hongdou, caught off guard, stammered, thinking of the online yuri discussions, even the “Sweet Red Bean Soup” group.
Qiao Rubai looked at Mi Hongdou intently. “Okay… I understand…”
I didn’t even say anything, what do you understand! Mi Hongdou thought. “Ji Junxin? She’s great, she’s my idol, you knew that in our previous life.”
“Do you like her?” Qiao Rubai asked directly, seeing through Mi Hongdou’s attempt to deflect the question.
I can’t say I don’t… Mi Hongdou nodded. “She’s my idol, of course I like her.”
“Do you want to be with her? Like… what they’re saying online?” Qiao Rubai pressed.
“…” Mi Hongdou’s palms started to sweat. Is she, as her best friend, trying to break us up?
Qiao Rubai, seeing her nervousness, changed the subject. “Do you know why Ji Junxin left the premiere early and went to Japan?”
Can you please not change topics so quickly, my heart can’t take it, Mi Hongdou thought and shook her head.
This time, Qiao Rubai didn’t keep her in suspense. “Her parents were also at the premiere, and during the film, they texted her, saying that the young doctor they wanted to introduce her to was also there, and they hoped she could meet him after the screening. They had tried to set up a meeting several times, but she always said she was busy. So, they brought him to the cinema. Ji Junxin refused, but they insisted, so she left early. They were quite angry, so I arranged for her to go abroad. It wasn’t for work, she’s probably gained weight from all the free time in Japan.”
“It’s okay… she doesn’t gain weight,” Mi Hongdou mumbled.
Qiao Rubai raised an eyebrow, surprised. “After all that, that’s what you’re focused on?”
“What else should I be focused on?” Mi Hongdou asked, a little dejected. “Should I be wondering how amazing that blind date is? If he’s better than Zhang Zijing? Should I be helping you find a suitable partner for Ji Junxin?”
“He’s a young doctor, a PhD, from a scholarly family, his parents are both teachers, good character, decent looks, the perfect son-in-law in her parents’ eyes.” Qiao Rubai looked at Mi Hongdou pointedly. “Shouldn’t you be wondering why Ji Junxin refused to even meet him?”
“Because she doesn’t like men who are teachers?” The more Mi Hongdou heard, the more depressed she became. Such good conditions, and a man, and her parents approved, it was terrible.
Are you stupid? Qiao Rubai wanted to ask, but she sighed. “Okay, so what do you think of Ji Junxin?”
“You just asked,” Mi Hongdou said, as if Qiao Rubai had Alzheimer’s.
So clueless… I want to slap her… Qiao Rubai sighed again. “Let’s talk about the blind date. Even if Ji Junxin dislikes teachers, she wouldn’t refuse to even meet him, right? If it were you, would you meet him?”
“No,” Mi Hongdou blurted out before she could even think.
Qiao Rubai smiled faintly. “Why?”
Because I don’t like men, I like Ji Junxin, are you an idiot! Mi Hongdou looked away. “Not interested.”
Qiao Rubai felt her patience wearing thin.
“Based on my experience from two lifetimes, and after seeing ‘Imperial Secrets,’ I think you like Ji Junxin.” This time, Qiao Rubai wasn’t holding back.
Mi Hongdou was stunned.
“You mean… the Empress likes Miao Qianye?” she asked, trying to play dumb.
“I have something to tell you, but only if you’re honest,” Qiao Rubai’s expression was serious. “Something you’ll regret not knowing for the rest of your life.”
Mi Hongdou: “…”
Are we even friends if you talk like that!
“It’s about Ji Junxin,” Qiao Rubai added, a tempting bait.
Mi Hongdou: “…”
“And I won’t tell anyone about our conversation,” Qiao Rubai sweetened the deal.
Mi Hongdou took the bait.
“Okay, ask.”
“Do you like Ji Junxin?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of like?”
“The kind you’re thinking of…”
“And what kind am I thinking of?”
“…”
“I have a little secret about Ji Junxin, I won’t tell you, I won’t tell you…”
Just sing it already!
“The kind that shouldn’t exist.” Mi Hongdou clenched her fists. That bastard Qiao Rubai. From the moment Qiao Rubai started questioning her, she knew she was prepared, almost certain of the answer. She could have denied it, but… something about Ji Junxin that she would regret not knowing… she had to know!
Mi Hongdou’s face burned after her confession.
Qiao Rubai, relieved, didn’t press further or tease her. That wasn’t her intention.
“I’m glad you told me the truth,” she said, relaxing into a smile. “Otherwise, you would have missed out on a secret.”
“Your secret better be worth it!” Mi Hongdou, having confessed, was now emboldened, her gaze challenging, almost threatening.
Of course, there would be no fight.
“In our previous life, Ji Junxin wasn’t with Zhang Zijing. She was with Jiang Duo,” Qiao Rubai said calmly.
Mi Hongdou was stunned, her ears buzzing.
“You heard that right. She was with Jiang Duo, Zhang Zijing was just a cover-up. But in the end, Jiang Duo ended up with the cover-up.” Qiao Rubai patiently repeated it.
After a long silence, Mi Hongdou finally spoke, her voice low and slow, “She… liked Jiang Duo?”
Qiao Rubai quickly slapped Mi Hongdou’s hand. “Hey, what are you thinking! That was in our previous life. She was blind then. In this life, there’s nothing between them.”
“Oh… oh…” Mi Hongdou nodded, then, as if suddenly remembering something, grabbed Qiao Rubai’s arm. “Then, I… I…”
“Slow down, I’m not going anywhere.” Qiao Rubai’s arm was starting to hurt, but she didn’t pull away.
Mi Hongdou swallowed hard, her trembling hand betraying her anxiety. “Then… when I died… she was like that… was it because of me… because of…”
Her hand trembled, her eyes reddening, her voice choked with emotion.
Qiao Rubai shook her head sadly. “I don’t know. After she and Jiang Duo broke up, she kept everything bottled up, so… I don’t know…”
Tears streamed down Mi Hongdou’s face.
Qiao Rubai’s secret was indeed something she would have regretted not knowing.
Two days later, filming for “Reality Online” began. Mi Hongdou, apprehensive, joined the cast. Equally anxious was Ji Junxin, her possessiveness almost overwhelming.